Protective face guard



Oct. 10, 1950 H,. Z'ELLER 2,525,389

PROTECTIVE FACE GUARD Filed Nov. 25, 1949 INVENTOR. fiex/zzm 1?. 262/227 ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 10, 195

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,525,389 v I PROTECTIVE FACE GUARD Herman L. Zeller, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Application November 25, 1949, Serial No. 129,346

This invention relates to a protective face guard.

The invention is more particularly concerned with a face guard which is adapted for operative association with a head protecting helmet, fencing masks or baseball protective masks.

While the improved face guard is applicable for use with various forms of head protecting devices, it is especially adapted for operative association with a football helmet, and it is a primary object of the invention to provide a face guard adapted for ready removable connection with a football helmet or similar head protecting device.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a face guard of arcuate plate form having a sight opening therein, and which is provided with means for cooperation with similar means on a helmet for receiving removable securing means for the guard.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a face guard of arcuate plate form constructed of plastic material, and which is provided with a generally rectangular sight opening and a plurality of breathing apertures below the sight opening.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a head and face protecting device com prising a helmet and a face guard of arcuate plate form removably connected to the helmet, the guard having a sight opening therein and otherwise providing for complete protection to the face of awearer.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side perspective view showing the improved face guard in operative association with a head protecting helmet.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, H designates a helmet such as is used as a head protector by football players and which, per se, is not novel. The helmet H includes the usual earreceiving portions 6 and flexible flaps f, to which a chin strap is usually secured.

Helmets of the type herein disclosed have heretofore been used with face guards operatively associated therewith and, in some instances, the helmet has been provided with apertures for receiving cords which extend through apertures in the guard for removably securing same to the helmet.

The improved face guard herein disclosed is 2 Claims. (Cl. 29)

particularly adapted for use with the apertured helmet above referred to.

The face guard comprises an arcuate plate l0 which is of such dimensions as to completely cover the face which would otherwise be exposed at the front of the helmet, except for a sight opening I I, which is formed in the plate substantially centrally thereof. The sight opening II is preferably of rectangular form as shown, but other forms of opening or openings may be provided.

The plate is also preferably provided with a plurality of relatively small breathing apertures Ila disposed below the sight opening II.

The plate in may be formed of rubber or metal, but same is preferably formed from plastic, as indicated, Which is preferably transparent, whereby a wearer may have vision throughout the front opening in the helmet.

The plate 10 is provided with apertures l2 alined with similar apertures in the helmet H, and tying cords c are laced through the mating apertures for removably securing the guard to the helmet.

The face guard may readily be constructed by various operations, such as stamping, injection moulding, forming, or pressing.

While the improved face guard is preferably removably secured to the helmet by tying cords as disclosed, other means, such as snap fasteners or the like, may obviously be used.

From the foregoing disclosure, it should be apparent that the improved face guard is highly effective, particularly in operative association with a football helmet, since the plate Ill will offer complete face protection and the sight opening ll, while providing for ample vision, will not admit a football to such extent as to injure the face of a wearer.

While I have disclosed my invention in accordance with a single specific structural embodiment thereof, such is to be considered as illustrative only, and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is: r

l. A face guard comprising a single pre-formed arcuate plate of uniform thickness throughout its extent, said plate having a single transversely elongated sight opening therein intermediate its top and bottom edges, a plurality of relatively small breathing apertures in the plate below said opening, and a plurality of tie cord traversing apertures in the plate above said opening.

2. A head and face protecting means comprising a helmet having a face exposing opening REFERENCES CiTEli bounded by a curved wall, a face guard comprising a single pre-formed arcuate plate of uniform The followlng references e of record in l thickness throughout its extent, aligned aperfile of this Patent! tures in the curved Wall of the helmet and the 5 upper portion of the guard, tie cords extending UNITED STATES PATENTS through said aligned apertures for removably Number Name Date securing the guard to the helmet, a transversely 1 488 812 Goodman Apr 1 1924 elongated sight opening in the plate below said 2125854 Standley f? 21938 tie ords, and a plurality of relatively small 10 2342982 Stem et 5 breathing apertures in the plate below the sight opening.

HERMAN L. ZELLER. 

